UK braced for 31C heatwave as Met Office weather maps burn bright red

James Rodger

24 June 2024 at 1:46 am·2-min read

UK weather maps have been scorched red as an Iberian blast sweeps the country - sending it sizzling. The rising temperatures in the UK, thanks to the rising thermometers from an Iberian plume, show nothern Europe will roast in rising mercury and it will also sweep to the UK too.

The uplift in temperatures has seen heatwaves forecast for parts of the UK next week after a grey start to the weekend, forecasters have said. On Monday, temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 27C in the north of England and 28C in the south and south-east of the country, before 31C highs at times over Tuesday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 26.

Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: “Some central and southern areas are likely to see temperatures approaching the values needed for heatwave conditions. Heatwave conditions need to remain in situ for three consecutive days, and by the middle of next week it is possible that some parts of the UK could be reaching heatwave thresholds.

“However, whether or not everyone experiences heatwave thresholds, the majority of the UK will experience the finest conditions and highest temperatures so far this year.” It comes amid separate reports of a so-called "pollen bomb".

On Friday, NHS England, which runs the NHS website, said the hay fever section of its website had been visited on average 11,736 times a day this week, compared with a daily average of 4,749 visits last weekend.

The Met Office outlook from July 8 to July 22 reads: "Typical of the time of year, predictability at this range is very low compared with, say, the winter half of the year, thus forecast confidence is very low. That said, current indications suggest that a continuation of the trend towards more settled weather through mid-July is weakly favoured, with below average rainfall and temperatures around to a little above average.

"Any more significant rainfall would most likely be in the northwest, and in thunderstorms elsewhere. There is a slightly higher than normal chance of heatwaves developing through this period."

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